I'm going for my consultation and testing next week. I have a (relatively) low BMI of 36-37. I'm worried he's going to turn me down.

Do you know of this ever happening? I have no co-morbities.

Thanks, Kris

p.s. i will be self paying.

Some doctors may turn you down but others would take you, being self pay you don't have to worry about insurance turning you down - which most probably would at first.

No co-morbidities - thats great, I wish I was at that point (perhaps I will be when I loose weight - only on my 3rd week with the band)

Since you don't have to deal with insurance, I wouldn't worry about it as much. It really depends on the surgeon. Some won't do the surgery on anybody with a BMI under 40 without co-morbidities and some will. If yours won't, you can probably find one who would.

Self pay? Yeah, they'll do you.

Yeah, they'll do you.

man, i haven't heard those words in a LONG time lol

thank you for the responses... i'm just so nervous! this is all i've been able to think about for months and finally decided to "go for it" and now i'm afraid the choice will be taken away from me.

My surgeon said he will turn down anyone, regardless of payment, even if they have a BMI of 39.9, which worried me because my weight fluctuates so much and pretty drastically and I still have about two weeks before I meet with my surgeon again. However as everyone here has said I'm sure there are more doctors out there that will be willing to take you... Best of luck!!!

Allison

man, i haven't heard those words in a LONG time lol

thank you for the responses... i'm just so nervous! this is all i've been able to think about for months and finally decided to "go for it" and now i'm afraid the choice will be taken away from me.

Just be prepared and explain all the attempts you've made to lose weight before and how you'd hate to come back to them in two years when you do reach a BMI of 40, becasue you feel that's where you're headed.

If you can't find an American doctor to do the surgery, Dr. Ortiz in Tiajuana will do it. He is reasonable about stopping obesity before it becomes morbid.

I was self pay and my BMI was 35.6. I was banded 4 weeks after my initial consultation and my BMI went down to 35.4. I did not have to do a pre-op diet which was cool.

Best wishes to you!!!!!

Hi there. I just joined this site tonight. When I started this process back in March of 2007, my BMI was only 36. I wanted this so bad. I was turned down by my insurance company on the first try. I was told to be persistant. So I appealed it and went to a new doctor for a second opinion. I didn't have any real comorbidities either. My doctor will do surgery with a bmi of at least 35. So I fought with the insurance company for a year. I was told when my bmi was higher that they would cover my surgery, so I gained weight. Silly, yes! My bmi was finally 39.4 and my insurance company agreed to cover it. I just got this news 3 weeks ago and my surgery is set for March 27!!!! :thumbup:. You can definatly find a doctor to do surgery for you with your bmi. And since you are self pay, it won't matter! Good luck.